May 11th, 2011
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Author: Dan May’s new CD “Dying Breed” features the song “Paradise,” which turns out to be something a little different from what the title suggests.
The lyrics of the song feature things like America’s addiction to corn syrup, the manipulation practiced by pharmaceutical companies, global warming, plastic surgery, the use of the attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder-treating drug Ritalin and swipes at Fox News, Facebook, the banking industry and bailout and even the Catholic Church.
Some description of paradise, huh?
“There’s a real connecting thread from song to song,” said May, the Philadelphia singer-songwriter, about his fourth full CD, recorded at MorningStar Studios in Spring House. “It’s a look back at the good old days that maybe weren’t as good as we thought they were.
“CDs are probably not going to be around much longer. The album format is dying out pretty quickly. It’s all about the song now, which to me is a little bit sad because I love the album format, how the songs are in a certain order, how one leads to another. I miss that. I miss concept albums,” he said.
Ohio native May — the former gravedigger, television cameraman, short-order cook, nuclear missile security guard, gas station attendant, ice cream truck driver, track coach, furniture deliveryman and newspaper reporter who inadvertently stumbled onto an opera career that was cut short by a vocal cord surgery — will unveil his latest effort at a CD release party at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 21, at the Plays and Players Theatre in Philadelphia. (Food and soft drinks will be served; wine and beer will be available for purchase.)
An Americana-folk-tinged troubadour whose soft voice and thought-provoking lyrics have graced the region for the past several years, May said he continues to evolve and grow as a singer and songwriter and that “Dying Breed” is evidence of that.
“Not to take away anything from the previous CDs, but there is a certain depth of content to this one,” he said. “When I listen to the other CDs I’ve done, I feel like this album is more mature. There’s something in there that keeps it as Dan May from my first CD to this one, but I do think that artists evolve.”
Also new this time around is May’s entry into the world of music videos. For the song “I Got a Gun,” May enlisted the help of Los Angeles animator Doug Bresler, who has worked on projects for Showtime and Cinemax as well as on an animated parody video for Weird Al Yankovic.
“A lot of my songs are like little movies, and I think they’d make good videos,” said May. “So I contacted Doug and he was really into the song, so we exchanged ideas.”
The original plan included premiering the video at the CD release party, but it isn’t completed yet. Those attending the soiree, however, will get an idea of what the finished product will look like as a “making of the video” short movie will be playing on a loop on a flat-screen television throughout the evening and after-party.
May said he chose Plays and Players Theatre as the venue for the CD release party because he prefers theater shows as opposed to clubs and coffeehouses.
“The audience comes in with higher expectations and the experience is better in general,” said May, who had his last CD release party at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, where he had graduated from opera training. “It’s a beautiful old theater [Plays and Players] and it’s in a very cool section of the city, right off Rittenhouse Square.” Continued…
May, who has used studio musicians on some of his past CDs but used his regular band members on “Dying Breed,” anticipates that his already established fan base will like this album.
“I call this one organic and Americana, which are words I throw out there when I don’t know what I’m talking about,” he quipped. “Americana to me, it’s not country and it’s not folk but it has those influences. It’s that kind of American sound with a touch of folk.
“There are songs on this CD that deviate from what I’ve done in the past, but I think once you’ve established your audience, it’s kind of like — well, here’s the next thing and you’ll probably like this, too,” he said.
Fort Washington resident John Conahan, who teaches music at Wissahickon High School, will open for May at the CD release party. Known for his audience interaction, Conahan’s award-winning songs have been featured on television, in film and promotional campaigns as well on syndicated radio programs. He is a regular at the Tin Angel, the World Café Live, the Living Room, the National Underground, Rockwood Music Hall and the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia.
Day May
will host a CD release party,
with John Conahan opening,
at Plays & Players Theatre,
1714 Delancey St.,
Philadelphia, PA 19103,
Saturday, May 21, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $20 in advance;
$25 at the door. Continued…
Dan May’s new CD “Dying Breed” features the song “Paradise,” which turns out to be something a little different from what the title suggests.
The lyrics of the song feature things like America’s addiction to corn syrup, the manipulation practiced by pharmaceutical companies, global warming, plastic surgery, the use of the attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder-treating drug Ritalin and swipes at Fox News, Facebook, the banking industry and bailout and even the Catholic Church.
Some description of paradise, huh?
“There’s a real connecting thread from song to song,” said May, the Philadelphia singer-songwriter, about his fourth full CD, recorded at MorningStar Studios in Spring House. “It’s a look back at the good old days that maybe weren’t as good as we thought they were.
“CDs are probably not going to be around much longer. The album format is dying out pretty quickly. It’s all about the song now, which to me is a little bit sad because I love the album format, how the songs are in a certain order, how one leads to another. I miss that. I miss concept albums,” he said.
Ohio native May — the former gravedigger, television cameraman, short-order cook, nuclear missile security guard, gas station attendant, ice cream truck driver, track coach, furniture deliveryman and newspaper reporter who inadvertently stumbled onto an opera career that was cut short by a vocal cord surgery — will unveil his latest effort at a CD release party at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 21, at the Plays and Players Theatre in Philadelphia. (Food and soft drinks will be served; wine and beer will be available for purchase.)
An Americana-folk-tinged troubadour whose soft voice and thought-provoking lyrics have graced the region for the past several years, May said he continues to evolve and grow as a singer and songwriter and that “Dying Breed” is evidence of that.
“Not to take away anything from the previous CDs, but there is a certain depth of content to this one,” he said. “When I listen to the other CDs I’ve done, I feel like this album is more mature. There’s something in there that keeps it as Dan May from my first CD to this one, but I do think that artists evolve.”
Also new this time around is May’s entry into the world of music videos. For the song “I Got a Gun,” May enlisted the help of Los Angeles animator Doug Bresler, who has worked on projects for Showtime and Cinemax as well as on an animated parody video for Weird Al Yankovic.
“A lot of my songs are like little movies, and I think they’d make good videos,” said May. “So I contacted Doug and he was really into the song, so we exchanged ideas.”
The original plan included premiering the video at the CD release party, but it isn’t completed yet. Those attending the soiree, however, will get an idea of what the finished product will look like as a “making of the video” short movie will be playing on a loop on a flat-screen television throughout the evening and after-party.
May said he chose Plays and Players Theatre as the venue for the CD release party because he prefers theater shows as opposed to clubs and coffeehouses.
“The audience comes in with higher expectations and the experience is better in general,” said May, who had his last CD release party at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, where he had graduated from opera training. “It’s a beautiful old theater [Plays and Players] and it’s in a very cool section of the city, right off Rittenhouse Square.”
May, who has used studio musicians on some of his past CDs but used his regular band members on “Dying Breed,” anticipates that his already established fan base will like this album.
“I call this one organic and Americana, which are words I throw out there when I don’t know what I’m talking about,” he quipped. “Americana to me, it’s not country and it’s not folk but it has those influences. It’s that kind of American sound with a touch of folk.
“There are songs on this CD that deviate from what I’ve done in the past, but I think once you’ve established your audience, it’s kind of like — well, here’s the next thing and you’ll probably like this, too,” he said.
Fort Washington resident John Conahan, who teaches music at Wissahickon High School, will open for May at the CD release party. Known for his audience interaction, Conahan’s award-winning songs have been featured on television, in film and promotional campaigns as well on syndicated radio programs. He is a regular at the Tin Angel, the World Café Live, the Living Room, the National Underground, Rockwood Music Hall and the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia.
Day May
will host a CD release party,
with John Conahan opening,
at Plays & Players Theatre,
1714 Delancey St.,
Philadelphia, PA 19103,
Saturday, May 21, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $20 in advance;
$25 at the door.
Info: 215-735-0630 or
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