Jon McL E-mail update

Hey everyone -

Well, it's been a little while since we've talked via mass email and the only person who loves chatting via mass emails more than you is me. So here we are. I thought it was about time I let you all know what I've been doing since the end of the tour.

The answer - writing. "Writing what?" you ask?....songs. Yeah, writing songs (weird that you had to ask). It has been so amazing to just be in one place for awhile and be able to spend some time getting some new material together. And the new stuff is REALLY coming in! I can't wait to get it out to you guys so you can hear it. Soon. Very soon.

It's also been really nice to just live some life (that isn't life on the road). You know, cooking, watching movies, getting stuck in traffic, etc... Yes, it's true, if you live on the road long enough you will even miss getting stuck in local traffic jams. I post all this stuff on Twitter and Facebook (and occasionally MySpace) if you don't follow along already!

Facebook.com/jonmclaughlin (I have 2 facebooks, one's an artist and one is my regular human one).

Twitter.com/jonmclaughlin

Also - My friends in the band Parachute (who came out on the Salute to 2009 Tour with us) have an album coming out MAY 19th!!!! Great guys. Great band. You should get their album!

Well, I hope you all are having wonderful lives and hopefully I'll see you soon!

God Bless!

-j-

Jon McL: Deeper Than You Think

Jon McLaughlin: Deeper Than You Think
By Supergina

Photo by Julia Barber

I had a lot of assumptions before talking to the almost 27-year-old singer/songwriter Jon Mclaughlin. You might have heard his song, “Beating My Heart,” on the radio. Most of my assumptions weren’t positive. I figured, oh great, another singer songwriter guy who has all his songs written for him and probably has an ego the size of Texas. He will probably put on a boring show by himself and a piano and I’ll have to sit through it. Come to find out that this Indiana-born polite man is actually quite the opposite. I thoroughly enjoyed talking to him and absolutely loved the energetic full band set he played with his band that he considers brothers. It was a pleasant surprise.

On March 1, I showed up to the Hard Rock Cafe in Sacramento to find the place closed, getting ready for the show. They allowed me in since I was “press” and then I proceeded to wait for the tour manager to get onto Jon’s bus. Contrary to my belief, he didn’t start with a bus. During their last U.S. tour, he toured with his band (the same one he is with now), Dylan, Lucas, Chad and Bobby, in a van and trailer. Living in a van and trailer, you really get to see the longevity of a band. Jon says, “The bigger you get, the more sort of disconnected everyone gets, not that you have to, you just have more opportunity to separate. On a bus you can do whatever you want. You’re in the town, it’s your day, but in the van, everyone is in it together. You’re stopping at truck stops together, you’re doing all this stuff together. As far as the progress of success, it’s sort of bittersweet.” Despite their having a bus, they mostly still maintain the duties of unloading and setting up their gear, as well as loading everything back up. Jon enjoys the humbling act, but won’t mind when he gets to the point that someone else can help out on a permanent basis.

On the bus, I briefly met Bobby, one of their guitarists, before he retreated to the back of the bus for Jon and I to do the interview. I am never a fan of awkward question-and-answer interviews. In that setting, the artists usually seem to have a preconceived notion of what is going to happen, what questions are going to be asked, etc. I set the recorder down and we just talked. Throughout the conversation, I learned that not only does Jon have an infallable sense of purpose and drive, he is one of the most laidback genuine people I have had the privilege to interview. One thing that I was very interested in knowing about Jon was his collaboration efforts with various songwriters on his latest album, “Ok Now.” Here’s what he had to say about that: “Songwriting is such an odd thing. It’s hard to be objective and it’s hard to even know if you are supposed to be objective about it, ya know. I didn’t want any help with it. I just wanted to do my own thing but I had all these great opportunities to write with these people. I could definitely see myself looking back and being like, why didn’t I take advantage of writing with these guys who are so established that I can definitely learn something from. Writing with them has definitely helped me. All of the co-writing that I have done I felt like I have learned for sure, from just writing with people. I have learned what I don’t like and what they do that I liked, all that kind of stuff. My goal is kind of to get to the point where I just want good music to go and be put out. I want good music that I am a part of, I don’t want to just take other people’s songs that someone has written for me, not that there is anything wrong with that, it’s just not what I want to do.” Hearing this from Jon was so refreshing. I was relieved to hear that he is an artist who values his musical integrity and doesn’t want to fall into the singer/songwriter pack of some of the top 40 artists.

Photo by Julia Barber

In talking about music, he mentioned that he is really into Bright Eyes lately. He just recently discovered their sound a few weeks ago and he says it has been inspiring him ever since. In his past interviews he has divulged his ’80s fandom, but this time however, he didn’t seem to focus on it very much. It seems that he is really trying to expand his sphere of influence when it comes to songwriting, and is looking forward to new things that may inspire him to write.

After the interview, I went back into the Hard Rock and had a chit-chat with the sound guy. He told me that Jon’s band was one of the tightest soundchecks he has ever done. The guys all wear in ears on stage and have a separate stage mix that they have dialed in for every show, so it’s fast. He just has to get the levels out to the crowd and then they’re basically done. He said they only ran through one song or so and that was it.

There were some radio station listeners waiting outside to get into the show. Shortly after opening doors, the opening band, The 88’s, started. I was so tired and the free drink I received from the Hard Rock actually made me even more sleepy, instead of perking me up as I had hoped. The 88’s kept me awake for the most part. They had an interesting retro type sound. A little dancy, a little weezerish. I am glad that I stayed to see Jon and his band play, even though I was exhausted. I asked Jon about the whole him and his band thing, and he said, “Over the past two years it has definitely become a band more than just me playing with some hired guys, not that it ever was that. They’re my band, I love ‘em. They do contribute a lot of ideas live and stuff, we all contribute. I have two guitar players and we have started some songs together as of late.”

Jon’s live show was much better than I expected. Not only are the musicians in his band talented (can you say, five-part harmonies?!), they’ve got stage presence too. It really was like seeing a band and not at all like a singer/songwriter show. If it wasn’t for Jon’s energy, I could have almost been more mesmerized by Bobby, the guitarist in his tight pants and boots wailing on guitar solos left and right. It could have been because I was sitting on his side of the stage and he kept making eye contact with me so it was distracting me from watching Jon. Either way, Jon definitely has his own style. He vaguely reminded me of Jonathan Jones - ex waking ashland frontman turned singer/songwriter. Jon doesn’t sit much on stage, he more hovers over the stool in front of his piano. He does a sort of “stand, lean, lunge” into the keys. He licks his fingers quickly (perhaps for entertainment value?) before taking on the keys. He uses very quick movements and raises his hands higher when playing than I am used to, so it almost looks as if he is slapping the keys - sometimes his hands were just a blur.

On the one song where Jon was front and center (a Beatles cover of “Come Together”), I watched and remembered what he had told me on the bus: “It’s different because I am always used to having something, even if it is just a guitar. It’s kind of a security thing so it’s been really good to just for a couple minutes on this song it’s just me. It’s just you, which is a really naked feeling; you either go one way or the other, and if you go the right way it’s very liberating, it’s cool.” Remembering that and watching him made me giggle and hope that he was up there not feeling naked. He is definitely more comfortable behind the piano.

I was very entertained by the show, and from the looks of the extremely varied crowd, they were too. I had done a quick demographic sweep while I was there, and there were anywhere from 16-year-old fans, to middle-aged women, as well as men of all ages and types. If there was no show going on, there was no way – from the looks of the crowd – that I would have been able to tell what type of musician was playing that night. I was sitting next to two hardcore fans who had met Jon in Santa Cruz. They were both 18 and had driven from Auburn to see him. They were really excited and knew almost all the songs.

I am thankful that I did the interview with Jon. It really changed my opinions on this singer/songwriter, and will hopefully allow me to be more open-minded next time I hear a top 40 hit, instead of scoffing, “sell out.” Jon’s career is very important to him, but so is his wife (he has her name tattooed on his arm) and his potential family. Eyes glimmering, he says that he is hoping there will be kids in the future, and that he can work that into a touring schedule. He has a very realistic view of the future that actually inspired me. He says, “I feel like you just have to keep a completely clean slate and just see, especially with the life that we lead, it’s like, just see what happens. I am trying to just be a little more ya know, stonerish without being a stoner, just kind of go with the flow. What else are you going to do?” I’d like to just leave it at that.

Posted: April 15, 2009

Original source:
http://fringemag.com/features/jon-mclaughlin-deeper-than-you-think

UPDATED: Human (Alternative Version)

Here's another new track I acquired: an alternative version of Human from Indiana. The vocals and music are completely different. The song is listed as a "new radio edit", but it sounds more like a demo.


http://www.sendspace.com/file/0ux145

Here's the full version of the track. It used to be on Jon's myspace playlist. Thanks to reader saugun for providing it!

http://www.sendspace.com/file/0ltv3p

Enjoy :o)

ETA: I apologize for the lack of updates recently. There hasn't been any news concerning Jon now that the album promotion/tour has ended. I will post whatever new items I find on the web from time to time.

Beating My Heart (Early live version)

Here's an early live version of BMH, performed in 2007 when Jon opened for Kelly Clarkson.



Thanks to Homertilicus for sharing the link.
As he pointed out, this version has a piano solo instead of a bridge before the last chorus. Obvious change being that a bridge was added and the piano solo was removed in the final cut of the studio version.

Enjoy

Dance Your Life Away (Alternative Version)

Here is an alternative version of Dance Your Life Away from an OK Now promotional CD I received. Looks like this version was going to be released until it was changed to the current version that we already have.

Dance Your Life Away (Alternative Version)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/67yyd0

If you listen *really* carefully, you'll notice the difference (actually it's just obvious ;) )

Enjoy!

Something To Believe In

Here's a track featuring Jon McLaughlin titled "Something to Believe In". It appears in Randy Jackson's Randy Jackson's Music Club, Vol. 1.



Something to Believe In
feat. Van Hunt, Jason Mraz and Jon McLaughlin

http://www.sendspace.com/file/xq1n4j

More Pics - Jon McL in 2005

Here are more pics of Jon, this time from 2005.
Photos by robalan




































http://www.flickr.com/photos/robalan/sets/72157612327976837/

Borders CD Signing - Washington D.C.

Here are a few pics of Jon's CD signing at Borders in Washington DC, USA on 12-17-2008 from Contactmusic.com










More here:

http://www.contactmusic.com/pictures/jon_mclaughlin/1-1

A Day On The Road

Here's Jon's new Youtube video where he shows us what a typical day is like on the road. There's even a shower scene! (not like that though... :P )



D/L video here (.mp4 format- 22 MB)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/7v7fqo

3 New Songs + Concert review

Here are three new songs that have been captured on video for the past couple of months during Jon's concerts. Hopefully this is a sign of a new album coming soon (perhaps at the end of this year or early next year!?)

Tentatively titled: You Belong With Me


Audio mp3:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/mngjma

Eyes On You (this one was actually performed early 2008 and would have ended up on 'OK Now', unfortunately it didn't)


Audio mp3
http://www.sendspace.com/file/mhjdzm

Untitled (jokingly titled "Streets of Philadephia" at the night of the performance)


Audio mp3:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/sl6y1c

Additionally, here is a brief review from our friend Homertilicus, who attended the Jon concert at the SOMA in San Diego, CA on the 27th of February.
-----------------------------------------
The concert ended fairly early. Doors were at 7:00pm. The opening act, Blue In The Face, took the stage at like 7:30pm. Jon came out at about 8:30pm. He played until 10:25ish and the show was over.

After the opening act finished, Jon's band started setting up. The stage didn't have a curtain, so we could see all the stagehands and band members setting up their equipment. I saw Dylan and Bobby come out and test their guitars. There was a stagehand testing Jon's keyboard and mic. And I guess the sound level was waaay too low since Dylan had to recheck it and retest it a few times until we finally heard sound from it. They set up for a while, then they disappeared backstage.

With no curtain to block their entrance, the band members finally took the stage and picked up their instruments. Jon just came right out with them. He didn't make a later entrance or anything grand. He just walked out on stage with everyone in the dimly lit stage and put up his hand to greet the crowd. There was only about 100 people there, maybe less. The venue was small and it wasn't even filled. I think it's because Soma is a punk rock/hardcore venue - so no one knew Jon was playing there. There wasn't a marquee or anything outside that had Jon's name or anything.

Jon opened the show with "Always On My Mind" playing guitar and then moved into "Beating My Heart". The setlist was, and I don't remember the exact order: "Always On My Mind", "Beating My Heart", "Perfect", "You Are The One I Love", "Human", "Amelia's Missing" (with extended instrumental break, yay!) "Indiana", "Why I'm Talking to You", "Come Together" (Beatles cover), "You Can Never Go Back", "Piano Man" (Billy Joel cover), "Mary Jane's Last Dance" (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers cover), "Indiana" and "Four Years". The encore was "Mary Jane" and "Four Years". Oh and he played a new song, which he says is untitled, but it's pretty clear that it's called "You Belong With Me" since that's the main part of the chorus and keeps getting repeated. It's an uptempo piano rock song. The music is reminscent of U2's "Beautiful Day".

He said that when he's having fun on stage, he likes to sing songs that aren't his, but songs that most people will know. He said he sings enough songs that no one knows - his songs. When he sang "Mary Jane", he dedicated it to a girl in the audience who said it was her birthday and he even said happy birthday to her after the song. And he dedicated it to his former college dormmate who was in the audience but didn't raise his hand to be recognized. Jon said his roommate was always playing that song in college, so he sings it now.

After the show ended, the crowd dispersed really quickly. There were a lot of people hanging out in the lobby waiting for Jon to come out, but they quickly left after like 10 minutes. Then the security kicked everyone out, so we waited outside the front entrance. Then the security locked the front doors and told people that Jon wasn't coming out and that we should all leave. A lot of people left, but a group of girls circled around the back of the building. I followed them with my friend. We waited around by the backstage exit for Jon. And another group of girls waited by his tour bus. After waiting for a little while, I noticed that the girls by the tour bus were taking pictures. I didn't know if Jon was there cuz I couldn't see him and I thought that maybe the girls were just taking pictures by the bus. Turns out, Jon was on the bus and he came out to take pictures with everyone and sign whatever they had.

So the group I was with by the backstage exit made our way over to Jon. I got a picture with him, he signed my CDs and laughed when he saw I had his self-titled indie album. He was like, "whaaaat? I don't even own this one anymore...." and he smiled. I shook his hand this time and thanked him. Even though I've met him once before, I was still super nervous. I wanted to take a separate picture with just me and him, but there was a group of girls still waiting and Jon was cold. He was still wearing the same thin little T-shirt he had on stage and he was like, "geez, why's it so cold here tonight" when he was signing my CDs. Ironic, right? Since he just said on stage that San Diego has fantastic weather. Poor guy. It was like 50 degrees, but he was sweating on stage and I think his shirt was still a little wet so that made him colder. Still, he stayed out there and greeted everyone and signed stuff for everyone. There must have been like 20 people all together. He's a trooper and was super nice.

Jon's voice was on point at this show. He sounded absolutely fantastic on every song and never hit a bum note. I love that even with a small turnout, he still gave a passionate, energetic performance. The upside to the venue was that the sound was fantastic. When I saw him in LA at the El Rey Theatre, I stood too close to the stage and missed the "sweet spot" of the sound system. So it was hard to hear him clearly since the sound system was positioned to be best heard by the center of the room. At Soma, I was in the sweet spot and close to the stage. The bass was thumping so hard you could feel it and everything was clear. Loved it!

Here are some great pics he took at the concert:

http://i43.tinypic.com/34yyy3d.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/2zp0409.jpg

This one is epic
http://i44.tinypic.com/2ibl2tj.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/aubk40.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/2a83tbt.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/29lbodw.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/29wk9d3.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/zt82v6.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/bc5l5.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/auwa3n.jpg

His signed CDs:
http://i39.tinypic.com/25fpx83.jpg


**Please do not take his pics and claim them as your own. You can ask him in the shout box if you want to post them anywhere else (if he doesn't mind).**
-----------------------------------------
Thanks for the review bud!

And enjoy everyone :o)