Album Notes

DUFF's "confident, honeysweet tenor voice" (Music Connection Magazine) always walks the strongest melodic path through his inventive, hooky pop rock songs. Whether performing solo or with his eponymous band (anchored by drummer George Bernardo and bassist Rick Barrio-Dill), Duff kicks out an infectious, highly personal show with "outrageously deceptively perfect vocals" (Smother) as if Rufus Wainwright were fronting Wilco. In August 2005, Folkworks Magazine hailed Duff as "one of LA's best."

Duff's fifth EP, 400 MILES, showcases a distinctive songwriting talent gaining traction quickly through over 150 live performances a year at colleges, festivals, clubs and coffeehouses, alongside indie press raves and radio play. Debuting on Los Angeles's KPFK-FM, KCRW-FM, and KCSN-FM radio in spring 2005, the new record brims with music and energy powered by a band described as a "magnificent rock outfit" (Smother) and "one of the tightest groups I've seen this year" (South Bay Music Scene).

Driving the songs over the top is the delicious combination of Duff's heartfelt vocals and shimmering harmonies from Portland singer Teri Untalan (Lush Life Players, Buckethead). The ghostly title track 400 Miles, which echoes with lonely guitar and B3 organ, is a "sad tale of desperate devotion that gets even more intriguing by the sudden revelation of said girl being dead and buried in the ground" (Cracked). B3 organ also rings out in the record opening Suddenly, a radio single with a bouncy guitar groove and a sunny tale of falling in love with a best friend. Close on its heels is Adrenaline, a hip shaking train beat tune with dueling twang guitars that jokingly chastises a friend who is living life a bit too high. Duff pulls out his bag of rock tricks on You Can Try, a proud statement of independence from an overbearing girlfriend, packing it thick with meaty guitar licks. Closing the record is the plaintive Sigh, exposing the lonely life of the singer over simple acoustic guitar and atmospheric slide guitar.

In the past year, Duff has shared stages with artists such as Anna Nalick, Garin Benfield, and Chicago Red. Though based in LA these days, Duff was born in New York City to a musical family and grew up singing in church choirs and school musicals before discovering rock guitar in his teens. Duff performed as a solo artist and session musician in Manhattan while studying acting and songwriting with Mark Barkan (Elvis, Rod Stewart), and he recorded three EPs before moving to San Francisco in 2000. In 2001, Duff collaborated with acoustic bassist Hans Glawischnig (David Sanchez, Ken Hatfield, Ray Barretto, James Moody) on a series of duo recordings. From 2002-2003, Duff toured 18,000 miles as lead guitarist for the Rich McCulley Band, a Nashville-managed band that rocked audiences with "melodious power-pop with a roots tinge" (Creative Loafing). The band received strong media attention and opened for acts such as Chris Duarte, The Mother Truckers, and David Olney before Duff left to pursue his solo career.

**PRESS HIGHLIGHTS**
SMOTHER -- Editor's Pick! "Quite possibly one of the most magnificent rock outfits this side of pop-rock's biggest chart-toppers. Duff boasts not just a beautiful tenor voice but can even strum the guitar and hit the skins. The music is catchy pop with nodes of blues-rock and indie. But what bridges it all together is the outrageously deceptively perfect vocals..."

Ear Candy Magazine "Delivers a polished combination of crafty pop and straight-forward rock that sounds like a mix between The Replacements and Wilco."

PopGoesLethal.com "Great, catchy songwriting. I'm a sucker for pop hooks, and Duff weaves them into layered songs and closes the deal with a very likable, earnest stage presence. He has talent."