SCHEDULE

View Fremont John's EPK

HELP MY TUNES RISE UP THE CHARTS:

  "EUROPA" OR ANY TUNE @ REVERBNATION.COM 

NO PITY ON ME @ www.songvault.fm (#10 on Blues Chart 
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MANGO BISTRO, ENGLEWOOD,FL FRIDAY, June 25, 2010  

A NIGHT OF MUSIC AND THE STORIES BEHIND THE MUSIC 

Fremont John will be performing his favorite songs and sharing the storys behind them at Mango Bistro in Englewood, FL this Friday.

Drawing from only his best cover arrangements, the listener will hear "City of New Orleans", "Summer Breeze", and blues tunes from the 1930's like "Stormy Weather", "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" and, "God Bless the Child". Showcasing his melodic guitar stylings he will draw songs from his brand new instrumental CD, "Guitar Songs"s. From there you will hear his acoustic arrangement of Santana's "Europa" and originals such as "Open Up!" and "Heavy in the Middle" (currently #3 at www.musictampabay.com) and more originals from the popular "Timeline" and, "Acoustic Thunder" CDs including "Jericho's Wall", "Timeline", "Forgive Me", "Save My Life", "Duval Street" and more.

Hear the songs, hear the stories, 6:30pm, Friday, June 25 at Mango Bistro in Englewood.
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 Stump Pass Grille, from 6:30pm, Saturday, June 19

Stump Pass Grille, 260 Maryland Ave.
Englewood, FL  34224
941-697-0859

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A new, redesigned web site is on the way.  The newsletter program is also being revamped.  Stay tuned for the upgrades.

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New CD, "Guitar Songs"

The Bay Buzz reviews

"Guitar Songs"

CD REVIEWS
By Dominic MaCrone

Released in late 2009, “Guitar Songs” is the fourth CD by Fremont John Ashton (fifth if you count his “Demo” CD, which is no longer available). John is based in Sarasota but is perhaps better known for his time in Key West where he was a fixture on the local music scene prior to coming to our part of the state. “Guitar Songs” was recorded in response to the request that John gets from listeners who want to hear more guitar (and, really - can you ever get enough guitar?). He recorded the CD in his home studio and was engineer and producer of the disc. The CD mastering and packaging was done by Disc Makers and this is up to their usual high standards.

On his new CD, John is accompanied by Michael Carden (percussion) and Fernando Saunders (bass). In a twist from the usual guitar trio set up, John plays only acoustic, there is no drum set used and there are no vocals either. The CD has 10 tracks, 9 written by John and one cover song; Santana’s “Europa”. John’s sound is clean and his acoustic lead tone is wonderful; clear and crisp but also warm. He can shred a bit, but thankfully
sticks to tasteful melodic lead playing over top his balanced rhythm guitar parts. John plays two Taylors on this recording and is effects free (more folks should follow his example here). And, most importantly, he resisted the urge to over compress the recording. Can we all please lighten up on the
compression?

John is an accomplished player with lots of gigs under his belt and it shows in his tasteful playing and tight but fluid arrangements. Fernando (bass) is an accomplished musician in his own right, who has played with many signed acts and is a good complement to John’s guitar playing. While I appreciate the decision not to use a drum kit on the recording, I have to admit I would have liked to hear more drive out of the rhythm section in spots.... But we have John’s other CDs for that! If you like the
“Sounds of Wood and Steel” series, you will enjoy this CD. If you haven’t heard of “Sounds”, start with Volume 1 (Vol. 2 is pretty great, but Vol. 3 was a let down).

John’s music is available at his web site (www.fremontjohn.com) as well as CD Baby, Reverb Nation, and at one of his many gigs. He is working on his next CD, “Contrarian” and is looking for street team members (I know you are out there - you can sign up at www.reverbnation.com/fremontjohn). If you
enjoy melodic acoustic guitar, buy this disc and support local music.



Published March 1, 2010 in TheBayBuzz.org

To subscribe to The Bay Buzz go to www.thebaybuzz.org

The Bay Buzz - NEWS FOR THE LOCAL MUSICIANS IN TAMPA BAY 

  MusicTampaBay.com Reviews "Guitar Songs"

"Tampa Bay's most seasoned and professional original singer/songwriter" - MTB

" Fremont John's treatment of the songs in his new, all instrumental collection is often light and lively, always meticulous and masterful, from a career showman who commutes regularly between Sarasota and Key West to entertain a sizeable league of followers in both local markets.  Ten songs in all, one called The Storm might easily be seen as a sequel to his vocal Storm Warning that wound up at #69 on last year's Top 100 on MTB.  Various tracks display the artist’s easy command of the instrument with serene and tranquil renderings, punctuated at times with thunder and lightning, that all make for an adventurous listening experience.  Titles like Peace, Slippery When Wet, and the pre-lease to the CD currently in the Big Bay 99, Heavy in the Middle all serve as testament to an artist who may be Tampa Bay's most seasoned and professional original singer/songwriter.  One track deserves special mention, said to be the artist's favorite, and the only cover in the collection - a Santana tribute called Europa, that showcases an extraordinary talent in a package given a plain and simple title, Guitar Songs."

The "Guitar Songs" CD is by far my best seller to date!  You can order your copy here.  Just click the "BUY NOW" button below. 

12/06/09

11/02/09

 THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING!

Are you wondering what to buy people for Christmas this year? (Oops! Well,I do Christmas but, let's say "Holiday of Choice")  Do you want to save time from shopping cause you're just too busy?  Why not purchase 5 or 10 CDs.  You'd be giving them a great gift!  "Music, the gift that keeps on giving." And, you would be helping  me out a ton!  I'll sign them if you buy 5 or more.  But, if you buy 10 as gifts (or maybe, cause you wanna start dealin'' for me on the side), I will personalize them for each recipient. 

"GUITAR SONGS" consists of 10 acoustic guitar instrumentals including 9 great originals and 1 cover, Santana's most beloved, "Europa".  About "Europa", this version is really going to blow your socks clean off and into the washer!  Like Margi said after she first heard it "Wow...!"  It doesn't stop there.  Like I said, there are 9 great originals!

THE BAND

The band is primarily an acoustic trio format.  I play the acoustic guitars and keyboards.  Michael Carden plays percussion ("percussion - things you beat, or shake, using your hands, sticks or mallets")  In this case, percussion is congas, djimbae, bongos, shakers, rain-stick, 'n' stuff.  There is no drum set on this CD. 

"Europa" features a very special guest, Fernando Saunders, on bass.  Fernando is one of a handful of bassists in the world who is on a level to play with Eric Clapton, Jan Hammer, Joan Baez, Pat Benatar, Lou Reed, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page and Marianne Faithful to name a few.  Fernando has been bassist to all of these people at one time or other.  He is also the bassist on my previous CD release, "Timeline".  www.fernandosaunders.com.  "Friend" him on FaceBook or MySpace and follow Fernando on Twitter, as I do.

TRACK LISTING

1.  Open Up!  -  If you've heard me play my opener lately, you've heard this upbeat, lightly jazzy tune.  People love this one!  It makes me friends.

2.  Europa  -  This is Santana's most known and beloved guitar instrumental.  Our version really rocks!  We have Fernando Saunders on bass.  This is Margi's fave.

3.  Walkin' Song - This tune reminds me a bit of Craig Chaquico.  It's happy, lightly jazzy and sounds like a walkin' song.

4.  Heavy In The Middle  -  Well, because it is.  It's kinda Celtic with a booming djimbae (jim'-bay) and hand-clapping and some pretty quick guitar. Margi's next fave.

5.  Daddy's Daughter  -   On "Acoustic Thunder", it was "Dirril's Daughter"  The change was requested and involves a story 'bout Margi's dads (bio and step).

6.  Dolphins Playin' in the Marco  -  Marco River, Marco Island, that is.  I saw them there just this past weekend as I was playing this tune at the Snook Inn. It was then, I knew the title.

7.  Robbies Tune  -  Beautiful ballad written by me on the day I got the call that my ex-bassist, Rob Leon had passed away.  First, the song then, the call.

8.  Slippery When Wet  -  If Steely Dan did an acoustic guitar instrumental Blues tune??  It is kinda slippery.  Must be wet. This one grows on you.  It is quickly becoming Margi's next fave. 

9.  The Storm  -  With some liberal use of imagination, you might hear the storm happening in this tune.  Finger-style back-up to a flat-pick lead.

10.  Peace  -  is what it brings me.  This is a lone acoustic guitar played finger-style.  It is my first finger-style guitar composition and recording.  What a nice way to close-out GUITAR SONGS.

You could help me out even more by sending this text around to your friends on FaceBook, MySpace, Tagged, etc. and also your E-mail list.  Viral online marketing is what would really rock my world.  Help me get this word out to help sales continue. 

YES, YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS!

Maybe you can't buy CDs right now.  But, you can tell others about it now that you've read this and if they buy, you've helped me a lot!  And if they tell others who buy heck, we're viral, Baby! Thanks for reading all of this and especially, for your support. 

10/17/09:

Fernando Saunders

featured on new CD

World-class musician and "Timeline" bassist, Fernando Saunders (Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Joe Cocker), just completed the bass track for "Europa" on the new CD.

Final mixing is now in process and should be complete by end of October then, it's off for mastering and duplication for Holiday release.

If you like my guitar playing, you are going to love this CD!

10/15/09:

LOOKING FOR ACOUSTIC GUITARIST TO COMPLETE NEW TRIO 

I have written new instrumentals that will be coming out on CD late this year. Most of these songs require at least a trio to properly perform them.

Are you looking for something that is new, original and not the same old thing everyone is doing? You just might like this band a lot! We will be two acoustic guitars and conga drums performing some demanding arrangements.

This trio will also feature dead-on 3-part vocals so, strong vocal ability is a must. If you also play bass or are a multi-instrumentalist, and if your guitar playing is up to speed, you will have an edge.

A great keyboard player will be my Plan B or the eventual 4th player.

I write parts that challenge and interest me. So the accompaniment parts should be interesting for you to play. Listen to "The Storm" or "Heavy In The Middle" or "Walkin' Song" on my MySpace profile page.

The band will also play carefully selected cover tunes that are usually completely rearranged to the point of an original work. "Summer Breeze", "Europa", "Horse With No Name" are cases in point.

You can also depend on me to showcase the abilities of a great player, like you. I love showing off good musicians. Consequently, you can find yourself up-front, singing lead, playing lead and/or having the band perform your song. The band may carry my name but I prefer if it is not always all about me. That is my nature. I love showing people what great musicians I can attract. So, you see, I have an ulterior motive. The better you are, the better I look; the better we all look; plain and simple.

I am about the music, the arrangement, the chord alteration, the whole new lead that makes a song sonically and harmonically pleasing to the ear. I have an excellent sense for what works. If you do too, this will be very, very fun and musically rewarding.

This will take time. Patience and hard work are virtues. Let's get started.

What? You say you're interested? Drop me a line at fremontjohn@fremontjohn.com or pick up your cell and give me a call at 305-849-3112.

Peace,

FJ
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ONGOING: 

GET A FREE CD and DVD! 

The band was incredible but that's what you get when the band is made of such talented people.  Thanks to all who made the show at WSCC such a success.

BAND:
Dave North, guitar, and P.A. management
Roger Tarczon, drums
Jason "Harvey" Hargreaves, bass
Mikey Carden, percussion
Mike Luusua, keys

BACK-UP SINGERS:
Jim Frost
John DeMint
Charlotte Betka
Michelle Kiessel

SOUND/LIGHTING
Matt Sly
Amanda Oxender

OTHERS:
Rick Plummer, WSCC 

Margi Ashton

Jeff Nixon, Owner - Instrumental Music and Sound Co.

WEST SHORE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC AND SOUND

Tom and Sharon Snyder -

Snyders Shoreline Inn

The Ludington Daily News

WKLA

WMOM

WWKR, 94K-ROCK 

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WE'RE STARTING A STREET TEAM !

Visit: FREMONT JOHN'S FAN SITE ON MYSPACE

This site was created by Robin Cochran of Homestead. Robin is initiating the the new fan page and starting a FAN CLUB too. Robin is President of the the new Fan Club/Street Team. We will explain more in an upcoming e-mail. Robin is seeking volunteers to help promote my music, shows, radio play and so forth. If you are looking for a new hobby or a new and different way to have some fun in your spare time, this could be for you. e-mail Robin at robincoch@gmail.com.

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"DEVILS DUNE" (a soldier's song) is on NEIL YOUNG'S WEB SITE FOR SONGS ABOUT THE WAR. Fans can help to move "Devil's Dune" up the charts at www.NeilYoung.com by streaming the song there.

"DEVIL'S DUNE" SELECTED FOR "HOLIDAY SPIRIT" COMPILATION DISK going to the troops in Iraq and Afganistan. It's not even a Christmas song but it is a song so directly appropriate for the soldiers, it beat out many other entries for this SonicBids.com opportunity. See press release:

We're focusing on 3 web radio stations at present. Please e-mail your request(s) for "Jericho's Wall" or other song from the "Timeline" CD to:

BBSradio.com

iLike2Rock.net and,

Awesomeradio.net (DJ Sunni or Shoshana)

For other towns and FM station, perhaps in your town, click the magenta link above.